USC FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: LB Galippo might get fresh start

USC senior Chris Galippo said he expects to start at weakside linebacker against California on Saturday in place of injured starter Malcolm Smith, an unusual move because Galippo has never played the position.

"Regardless of if (I can play it), I am," said Galippo, who's a middle linebacker. "At the end of the day, playing linebacker is playing linebacker."

Smith sprained his knee and is unlikely to play against Cal. His replacement last weekend, Shane Horton, is limited because of an injury.

"You've got to work on covering wide receivers," Galippo said. "It's a completely different kind of leverage you need to play it."

Coach Lane Kiffin said he didn't know who would start at the position. Kiffin said he wouldn't hold injured players out to give them an extra week of rest with a bye after the Cal game.

"Either they can play or they can't," he said.

Penalty problem

Senior linebacker Michael Morgan committed two costly penalties against Stanford. He tackled a Stanford player at the 2-yard line on a pass route, then held a Cardinal player on a critical play when Galippo sacked quarterback Andrew Luck.

But Morgan complained he didn't deserve the second flag.

"The first one was a penalty," he said. "The second one, I won't say anything. They made the call. I got too aggressive, I guess."

Woods at nickel back

Freshman wide receiver Robert Woods practiced at nickel back Wednesday, and Kiffin said he could be the Trojans' first two-way player.

Kiffin wouldn't say whether the move was genuine or a smoke screen to throw off California. Last week Kiffin said he wanted to "run the ball a lot" against Stanford, in an effort to confuse the Cardinal.

If the move is serious, it displays dissatisfaction with nickel backs Brian Baucham, T.J. Bryant and Torin Harris.

Kiffin does eventually want to use more two-way players when scholarship reductions go into effect.

"I want to look at as many things as we can," Kiffin said.

Woods said he welcomed the defensive duties.

"It was the coaches' idea, but it's a goal of mine to play both ways," Woods said. "They're talking about putting me in this week. They are just giving me one task: just lock down my man."

Woods played two ways at Serra High School in Gardena.

"I played cornerback, but we just played man-to-man a lot," Woods said.

Pac-10 matter

Kiffin said the Pacific-10 Conference addressed his complaints with the officiating and clock operator against Stanford.

"I have heard back that they have dealt with it and that's all I can say," Kiffin said.

The Pac-10 didn't release any public statements regarding disciplinary action.

Line shuffle

With offensive tackle Tyron Smith limited in practice because of an injury, freshman left tackle Kevin Graf took snaps at right tackle Wednesday.